Hamburger vs Preston North End preview - Struggling pair face vital clash

Hamburg and Freiburg will know a little more about their chances of playing in the Bundesliga next season after their relegation battle on Friday night.

There are just three games of the season remaining, with Hamburg currently one point ahead of Freiburg - who currently occupy the relegation play-off berth and are above the automatic relegation spots on goal difference alone.

Getting three points is therefore imperative for both sides, with a win potentially allowing either to secure their top-flight status with a game to spare next weekend.

Hamburg have won their last two to move above Freiburg, who let three points slip at home to fellow strugglers Paderborn last weekend. Form favours the hosts.

"We needed these wins, both for the team and for the fans, but we must be conscious of the current situation and carry on the way we have been going without letting up," said Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia.

"All these two wins have done is keep us in the running."

Freiburg are also in the running with their destiny in their own hands, considering the remaining fixtures they have.

"We travel to Hamburg, who are 14th, then we host Bayern before going to Hannover, who are 17th, on the final day of the season," said their defender Nicolas Hofler on scfreiburg.com.

"That means we've still got to face two direct rivals so it's up to us to finish the season successfully.

"I'm convinced we'll have our opportunities in this game too and we want to take them to ensure we come out of this important game with a win."

Rafael van der Vaart did not train fully on Thursday, but Labbadia said that was "purely a precaution" with the Hamburg captain set to start on Friday night.

Apart from the injured Mats Moller Daehli, Freiburg coach Christian Streich has all of his options available as they look to beat the drop late on for the second year running.